A visit to the Anthony Nolan Labs

You just have to give a 4ml blood sample to join the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Register in the UK.  And from that sample your tissue type is established.

But what happens to that blood sample arrives at the laboratories in London?

Tissue typing is a complicated process and the photos below show each stage of the procedure, from the logging in of the blood samples to the final tissue type.

Hopefully the photos will give you an appreciation of all that is involved in determining a tissue type.

Blood samples received and logged	DNA extraction	Storage of extracted DNA samples
Pre PCR testing	DNA amplification	Corridor of freezers where samples are stored at -72°c
Final testing stage	An individual's tissue type	Serology testing